TALL FESCUE MENACE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5097, 7 March 1927, Page 3

TALL FESCUE MENACE.

FUTURE OF PLAINS ENDANGERED.

REALISATION BY SETTLERS.

CONCERTED ACTION ESSENTIAL.

(By our Plains Representative.)

Farmers of the Hauraki Plains n°w realise the seriousness of the spread of tall 'fescue grass and the fact that unless action is taken quickly the land of the district will become as worthless as that of the Orongo Block. This bold statement is made as the result of numerous inquiries, and while ip many cases the “Gazette” has been complimented for drawing attention to the seriousness of the menace, quite a large number of settlers have complained that it was unwise to give publicity to the if the district f,rom which they make a living. To this we reply that it is better to point out the danger while there is yet time to remedy it than to continue living in a fool’s paradise until it is too late.

Tall fescue grass is established m all parts of the Plains, and is spreading rapidly. At Orongo it is. in complete charge, and the soldier settlers are being driven off their farms; along the shores of the Hauraki Gulf and the banks of the Waihou River it is firmly established and is encroaching inland ; about Tuma it is almost in sole charge of the roadsides and drain banks ; and throughout the farm land of the Plains, and even on the grazing runs near Kaihere and Patetonga, one does not have to go far to find a clump, which is allowed to seed and spread practically unchecked.

Tall fescue is not a noxious weed according to the Noxious Weeds Act, despite the frequent representations from the Plains to have it included in the schedule, and it would probably be wise for those settlers who realise the seriousness of the menace to approach the Ministers of Lands and Public Works, be,th of whom are farmers, on their visit to the county this month with the request that Cabinet should’ seriously reconsider its previous decisions; also that the officers Of the Department of Agriculture should be instructed to investigate the problem of eradication or control of tall fescue on the Hauraki Plains.

In moving about the district and discussing the matter with farmers, one is struck with the peculiar attitude taken up by them towards tall Tescue. Everywhere it is admitted that the problem of its eradication is one that should be very seriously tackled; yet, beyond theorising on possible methods, few farmers can state that they have attempted to cope with the growth on their own lands and road frontages. They regard tall fescue as a curse, but continue to take it lightly and defer action, though many realise that should it overrun their land it would be worse than a mortgage of £7O or £BO an acre.

Perhaps it is with the idea off shifting the onus on to someone else that the extreme suggestion made in this paper of setting up a board and giving or obtaining for it the necessary powers to deal with the pest has been acclaimed in many quarters.

As it appears that a lead is essential before the settlers can be made to realise their obligations to themselves and their neighbours, the suggestion is here made, that the County Council, with the co-operation of the drainage boards, should undertake the eradication of all tall fescue plants from all roadsides and drain banks, charging the cost to the riding account if such is permissible by law. If all .roadsides and drain banks were kept free the seriousness of the menace would be removed to a certain extent, and an impression on settlers would be created.

Instructions have been given by the council that isolated clumps of fescue growing on' roadsides should be removed by county workmen jts soon as tfiey are noticed, hut this is not sufficient. Definite instructions should be given that all fescue growing Mong all road? should be dealt with regularly. An exception could be made with the Opanae Road, Orongo, where the fescue is growing to a height of six or eight feet through the metal on the unused road in the unopened section o'f the block. '

In regard to the best methods to be adopted by farmers in dealing with the growth .of fescue, very diverse views are held. Spraying with poison is advocated by many, and several farmers' are experimenting .with this method in an endeavour to find a cheap and effective spray which will not poison the ground for a long period or injure cattle. Other farmers hold that constant cultivation is the only feasible method wh.ere such treatment is possible. Crushing with ■horses has been successfully tried at Wharepoa on a farm which was as badly affected as the Orongo Bieck, and areas near the Piako River which in the early days were overrun with fescue are now clear as the result of frequent flooding. Information on the matter from farmers who have had experience in dealing with tall fescue would be welcomed, and this paper would gladly publish letters to the Editor on the subject.